Bonsai is one
of the more beautiful results of man’s attempts
to curb nature. Here we show you how to make the most
of these tiny trees

The art of creating
miniature indoor trees began over two thousand years
ago in China. Now known as bonsai, this term derived
from the Chinese word pen’jing, meaning
“a tree or shrub planted in a shallow dish or
tray”. In the 12th century, the Japanese put their
own slant on the tradition by growing the trees outdoors.

Those that we’re
offering on our site will make exciting additions to
any interior. However, they do need regular attention
and care, so make sure you’ve got the time to
look after them properly to avoid disappointment later
on.

Delivery Water
your bonsai as soon as soon as you receive it. A couple
of weeks after delivery some of its leaves may turn
yellow. This is to be expected as it gets used to its
new location. Just flick these leaves off – don’t
pull them in case you damage any buds.

Watering Bonsai
should be watered by immersion. Submerge the pot in
water for five minutes or so, then allow it to drain.
Do this daily in the summer, and every other day through
the rest of the year. Compost should be moist to the
touch at all times; don’t let it dry out. Stand
the pot in a tray of moist gravel.

Location Think
carefully before deciding where to stand your bonsai.
It will need lots of light but should be kept out of
the midday sun. The temperature should be warm, so avoid
windowsills, where conditions can fluctuate. If your
chosen location has only once source of light, remember
to regularly turn your tree to ensure balanced growth.
Rethink the location if your tree starts to lose its
leaves.

Fertilizer
Bonsai trees like lots of food, so feed yours every
two weeks in the summer, and once a month in winter.
Use either a specially formulated bonsai food or phostrogen
tomato feed, and apply only after you’ve watered
your plant. Take care to follow instructions, overfeeding
can lead to scorched leaves.

Pruning Use
the tree’s original shape as your pattern for
pruning. Simply cut off the long shoots to maintain
its look. You’ll need to do this throughout the
year, particularly in the summer when the tree does
most of its growing.

Repotting
Make sure you repot your bonsai every two or three years,
preferably in the spring. Trim away a small amount of
the root, and replace the old soil.

Troubleshooting
Brown, crinkly leaves – indicates that you’ve
not been watering your bonsai enough. Let these leaves
fall of their own accord, and follow the watering instructions
above.

Glossy or sticky
leaves – possible aphid infestation. Take the
plant outside and spray the underneath of its leaves
with a proprietary insecticide. Or spray every three
days with a weak solution of washing up liquid and water,
a maximum of three times. NB. If your tree is affected
in any of these ways, stop feeding it until new growth
appears.